Photos here:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/owcXvvxg88fpHTko6
BEFORE MY START: My 65th race of 2019 was the Elf 5K held on Dec 15 at Teleton USA in San Antonio. This event supports Teleton efforts in providing services for its Children Rehabilitation Centers. Children’s Rehabilitation Institute TeletonUSA (CRIT) is the largest private pediatric rehabilitation system in the world with more than 110,000 patients treated to date in the United States and Mexico. I have a personal interest in this cause, as I was a March of Dimes baby, born with a birth defect. Events included a kids run, a walk, and the main event at 9 a.m. As I only live a very few miles from this location, I was able to sleep in a bit, arriving at race location with about an hour to go. Got my race packet and then got a few pre-start photos.
ON THE COURSE: Still nursing a sore left foot but is a lot better than it was. I planned to just take it slow, like I did for my 5K the week before, thinking I’d finish in about 41 – 43 minutes like my previous 5K. The course of this one is very flat, starting in front f San Antonio’s Teleton building, then doing a loop around the man-made lake on the grounds of Morgan’s Wonderland – an amusement park designed specifically for those with special needs; even people with wheelchairs can enjoy some rides – and then an out-and-back past local Heroes Stadium, and then back around the lake, exit the park again, and then down to the finish line. I was feeling pretty good and my foot behaved. I did my 1st mile in 11:20, which I knew I’d pay for, as I have not been running very consistently since I hurt my foot; and I did; my last 2 miles were in the 12 minutes-plus range. I ended up with a chip time of 37:15, averaging 11:59 per mile. There were 5 people in my age group and I was number 5, lol. The top 3 guys all finished in the 20s. I was happy with this race though; slowly making progress in getting back to my normal running.
After My Finish: Walked around a bit, did a cool-down, then sat and drank some water and just relaxed a bit. Then wandered around getting some after photos.
EPILOGUE: This is quite a fun event with usually a pretty nice turnout but for some reason, this one seemed a bit smaller, entry-wise, than in the previous years I’ve done it. Locally, Saturday, the day before this race, was quite a busy racing day – I think there were 6 local day races and then there was a race in the evening too – so I know several people went out and did those, with some doing both the day and the night races, so maybe lots of folks were just resting up on Sunday after that. Anyway, this is a fun event, with lots of people dressing up in Elf and other holiday costumes, and Santa Claus onsite, and it’s also dog-friendly if you want to run or walk with your 4-legged friend. Pretty nice medals for the age group placers and a nice quality race tee. Very nicely though out course this year; I like this course the best, out of the courses used in the past. Hope they keep this one. I’ve done this one in the past, will continue to do it in the future, and would recommend it to others.
Many thanks to all the people who made this one happen for we participants, including all the sponsors, vendors, volunteers, police officers and EMTs out there for us and, of course, Teleton for the use of its grounds and facilities. Very nice building with indoor restrooms and water fountains – always a plus- and a nice sitting area to just relax in before and after the start. Apologies and thanks to anyone I may not have mentioned here that was also involved.
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